Racing has been abandoned at Chelmsford City Racecourse on Thursday and Friday following a decision by the British Horse Racing Authority (BHA) board not to grant a license to Golden Mile Racing Limited (GMRL). The latter is the name of a new company set up to run Chelmsford City Racecourse (CCR) in place of former licensee Great Leighs Estates Limited (GLEL), which has been put into administration.
Bids were taken on Wednesday morning by Weatherbys for Chelmsford’s Good Friday auction, which was announced to be worth a total of £251,000. Two hours later the BHA released its decision, saying “the reasons for this decision are confidential”. The original decision was made by the board on Sunday but GMRL was allowed to make oral and written submissions on March 31 but failed to get the decision overturned.
The Essex track now faces an uncertain future. Its meeting scheduled for April 9 has also been cancelled, with the possibility that future arrangements will depend on the outcome of a possible appeal.
A BHA statement released just after midday on Thursday said, “After careful consideration of the matter and consideration of the facts presented, the board’s position remains that it does not consider it appropriate to grant a racecourse license for CCR to GMRL.
“The Board’s decision means that GMRL does not have a license to conduct sports, pending the outcome of any appeal. This means that unfortunately no further arrangements will be made at CCR pending the outcome of any appeal process. This includes the games on 2nd April, 3rd April and 9th April.
According to the Racing Rules, the GMRL can appeal the decision of the board to the independent Licensing Committee.Rule (B)19). An application for leave to appeal must be made to the Executive of the Judiciary within 21 days of receiving the contested decision (Code of Judicial Panels, paragraph 105). The 21 day period starts from the date GMRL receives the reasons in writing. “
The license held by GLEL expired on March 31st, and a recent meeting held at the venue on March 26th was given permission to proceed with a director’s agreement. The 2nd and 3rd April amendments will not be postponed again.
The statement continued, “Plans for future games, including April 9, will be announced in due course.
“The BHA has worked hard with the participants to deliver this week’s games. We are sorry that they have been canceled at such short notice. We recognize that this will affect the participants – particularly trainers, staff and riders – as well as the racers.”
Formerly known as Great Leighs, racing began at Chelmsford under the ownership of John Holmes in 2008, but the track closed in 2009 when the original ownership company was placed into administration. Since its rebirth as Chelmsford City Racecourse in 2015, the arena’s operating licence, which expired on 31 March, was held by Great Leighs Estates Limited. The CEOs of the financial institutions were officially appointed for GLEL by the High Court on 25 March.
The proposed transfer of the license from GLEL to Golden Mile Racing Limited, with John Holmes and his son Nathan, the commercial director of Chelmsford City Racecourse, listed as two of its directors, is said to be part of a “long-term planned restructuring” of the site. Representatives from Chelmsford City Racecourse have been approached for comment.
The delay in the announcement from the BHA board, after Friday’s plans were finalized in a press release, drew criticism from participants. Trainer Stuart Williams, who entered the runners for all three weather meetings on New Friday, said on social media, “This decision seemed inevitable from what was in the press, but to pull the fuss after making the announcements of the Friday meeting at 10 am is a real slap in the face to the owners / trainers. [jockeys]. Some of these tribes have been attacked for months. A deafening sound from [the BHA].”
Jockey Paddy Bradley said in his X report, “To allow announcements at 10am on the richest racing day of the year and cancel the game an hour later leaving jockeys unable to ride in other meetings is a disgrace.”
Trainer John Berry added, “It’s disappointing but you get used to disappointment. And in our case the disappointment is mitigated by the fact that the horse we announced for Chelmsford on Friday, Merrijig, has a chance at Kempton on Monday, so he can go there.
Clearly there was a hangover over Chelmsford’s future, both immediate and long-term, following the announcement of the education funding crisis last week. more disruption would cause more people.”
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